Working parents who are on coronavirus support schemes will remain eligible for childcare support even if their income falls below the minimum threshold requirement, the government has announced
From 1 November, eligible working parents who receive support through the new job support scheme (JSS) and extended self-employed income support Scheme (SEISS) will continue to receive their childcare entitlements, including the 30 hours offer and tax-free childcare, even if their income levels fall below the threshold temporarily whilst on these schemes.
The move follows the publication of new data showing that more parents are getting back to work after the impact of the pandemic. Official statistics on early years have found that children’s attendance at the majority of nurseries, preschools and childminders is now at 86% of pre-coronavirus daily levels.
The minimum income threshold for 30 hours free childcare and tax-free childcare is usually equal to 16 hours per week at the national minimum wage.
In response to the challenges faced by working parents during the pandemic, the government announced in May that those who were previously eligible, but whose income temporarily dropped as a direct result of the pandemic, retained access to support through both these schemes.
The Department for Education, which provides 30 hours free childcare to eligible three- and four-year-olds in England, reported it has seen 180,000 applications and around 430,000 reconfirmations for 30 hours places since March 2020, demonstrating the importance of protecting parents’ eligibility.